CHINA National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) started drilling on Sunday for its carbon dioxide (CO2) injection well at the Enping 15-1 platform. It is China's first offshore CO2 injection well, which the group said would be able to store about 300,000 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to planting nearly 14 million trees or turning off about 1 million vehicles, according to news portal jiemian.com.

According to media reports, the drilling operation will be completed by the middle of April. The well will be used to inject and seal up CO2 generated during oil and gas production.